Traditional architecture that transformed design
Traditional architecture has had a significant influence on the design of buildings throughout history. It has shaped the way architects approach the design process, and many architects continue to draw inspiration from traditional architectural styles and techniques. The use of symmetry, proportion, and ornamentation, for example, can be traced back to traditional architecture and are still used in contemporary design.
Additionally, traditional architecture often incorporated local materials and construction techniques, which has led to the development of unique architectural styles in different regions. However, in recent years, there has been a shift towards sustainable and energy-efficient design, which has led to the incorporation of modern materials and technology in traditional architectural design.
Traditional architecture is often dismissed in conversations about architecture, especially by modernists. Some arguments against traditional architecture are:
Traditional design is about style and style is about superficiality. Good buildings are shaped by deeper ideas
Good architecture expresses its own age. Traditional design expresses an age gone by
Using traditional design languages today creates replicas that are not authentic – like Disneyland
Traditional design is not progressive because it doesn’t move the discipline forward through innovation
If a designer insists on using traditional design languages, they must adhere strictly to the traditional rules which discourages creativity.
These arguments are deeply rooted in our modern conceptions of architectural design. They’re so rooted in fact that they seem self-evident and beyond discussion; especially in the classroom with phrases like “form follows function.”
The efforts to reject traditional architecture originated at the turn of the 20th century with a period of exceptional worldwide political and cultural turmoil. With an increase in conflicts regarding different architectural choices for the future meant that individuals, and more importantly designers, felt obliged to choose sides.
Early modernists focused on salient features of the early-20th century seeing in machine like buildings. The progressives, evolving from gothic revival into the art deco and eventual Frank Lloyd Wright focused on the evils of industrialisation. Whereas the academic eclectics (exemplified by Ecole des Beaux-Arts, believed the traditional architectural styles continued to express universal human values despite the changing world.
Progressives and the academic eclectics, even in the 21st century, still use traditional architectural design languages while being updated to reflect contemporary needs. Modernists, however, reject the use of traditional design altogether and at the time argued that an entirely new age had emerged, driven and shaped by machines.
So how has traditional architecture transformed design in the last two centuries?
Traditional architectural history has a large focus on style added to the basic structure and construction of a building. While modernists may claim this superficial approach to design means buildings aren’t finding “correct solutions” to architectural problems. Traditional architecture and the influence of style on architecture has developed a variety of collected works that form a variety of architectural styles. Impressionism, brutalism, international modern, gothic revival, Chicago blues, nouvelle cuisine, punk fashions and many others, are examples of how human artistic expressions in architecture can share similar characteristics. Traditionalism allowed up to cement these ideas of variety in design approaches in architecture.
Traditional architecture has also paved way for architectural forms to express the values of a design. It was a foundation on how architectural design is an aesthetic best expressed by the values of its age – although now entering a new decade we see more combinations of ages.
Old, traditional buildings still have quite a lot of value and have become important to historic preservation. This is because of the intrinsic character traditional architecture. Some people argue that recreating or restoring traditional architectural buildings for preservation or simply because you like the style creates a slippery slope of making the design less authentic. Rejecting this preservation due to the “cut and copy” effect means rejecting the design ideas of Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe which still show up in contemporary building.
Many contemporary architects and designers continue to draw inspiration from traditional architecture from different regions and cultures, such as traditional Japanese architecture, and traditional Chinese architecture, and incorporate elements of these styles into their designs.
Examples of how traditional architecture has influenced design:
Islamic Architecture: The use of geometric patterns, arabesque designs, and calligraphy in Islamic architecture has had a lasting impact on the design of religious buildings such as mosques, as well as secular buildings such as palaces. These elements can be seen in contemporary architecture, such as the design of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Indian Architecture: The use of domes, arches, and ornate carvings in Indian architecture has had a lasting impact on the design of religious buildings such as temples, as well as secular buildings such as palaces and forts. These elements can be seen in contemporary architecture, such as the design of the Lotus Temple in New Delhi, India.
African Architecture: The use of traditional building techniques and materials, such as mud brick and thatch roofing, in African architecture has had a lasting impact on the design of residential and rural buildings. These elements can be seen in contemporary architecture, such as the design of the Earthship Biotecture in Malawi, Africa.
Nordic Architecture: The use of wooden construction and simple, minimalist forms in Nordic architecture has had a lasting impact on the design of residential and commercial buildings. These elements can be seen in contemporary architecture, such as the design of the Long House in Norway.
South East Asian Architecture: The use of tropical building techniques and materials, such as bamboo and thatch roofing, in Southeast Asian architecture has had a lasting impact on the design of residential and rural buildings. These elements can be seen in contemporary architecture, such as the design of the Green School in Bali, Indonesia.
Spanish Architecture: The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, designed by Frank Gehry, incorporates traditional Basque architectural elements such as the use of curved forms and the incorporation of the surrounding landscape into the building's design.
Canadian Architecture: The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada, designed by Fumihiko Maki, incorporates traditional Islamic architectural elements such as the use of geometric patterns and arabesque decoration, and the incorporation of water features into the building's design.
German Architecture: The Jewish Museum Berlin in Germany, designed by Daniel Libeskind, incorporates traditional German architectural elements such as the use of brick and the incorporation of traditional German motifs into the building's design.
Brazilian Architecture: The Casa de Vidro (Glass House) in Sao Paulo, Brazil, designed by Lina Bo Bardi, incorporates traditional Brazilian architectural elements such as the use of natural materials like wood and stone, and the incorporation of local motifs into the building's design.
Argentinian Architecture: The Museum of the National Bank of Argentina in Buenos Aires, Argentina, designed by Mario Roberto Álvarez, incorporates traditional Argentine architectural elements such as the use of brick and the incorporation of traditional Argentine motifs into the building's design.
Traditional architecture has had a significant impact on the design of buildings and structures. It has influenced the use of materials, forms, and details in modern architecture. Many contemporary architects continue to draw inspiration from traditional architectural styles, such as classical, Gothic, and Renaissance, and incorporate elements of these styles into their designs. Additionally, traditional architecture has also played a role in the preservation and restoration of historical buildings and sites. Overall, traditional architecture has had a lasting impact on design, shaping the way we think about and approach the design of buildings today.